Chapter 20, Problem 9CQ

Eddy current are induced currents set up in a piece of metal when it moves through a nonuniform magnetic field. For example, consider the flat metal plate swinging at the end of a bar as a pendulum, as shown in Figure CQ20.9. (a) At position 1, the pendulum is moving from a region where there is no magnetic field into a region where the field $\stackrel{\to }{B}$ is directed into the paper. Show that at position 1 the direction of the eddy current is counterclockwise. (b) At position 2, the pendulum is moving out of the field into a region of zero field. Show that the direction of the eddy current is clockwise in this case. (c) Use right-hand rule number 2 to show that these eddy currents lead to a magnetic force on the plate directed at shown in the figure. Because the induced eddy current always produces a retarding force when the plate enters or leaves the field, the swinging plate quickly comes to rest.

Figure CQ20.9